Article alining and feeding mechanism



Aug. 9, 1960 A. R. FRANK ET AL ARTICLE ALINING AND FEEDING MECHANISM Aug. 9, 1960 A. R. FRANK ET AL ARTICLE ALINING AND FEEDING MECHANISM 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 29, 1955 'Aug- 9, 1960 A. R. FRANK ETAL 2,948,394

ARTICLE ALINING AND FEEDING MECHANISM 9 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 29, 1955 Aug 9, 1960 A. R. FRANK ETAL 2,948,394

- ARTICLE ALINING AND FEEDING MECHANISM Filed June 29, 1955 9 Sheets-Sheet 4 Aug. 9, 1960 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 29. 1955 l1g- 9, 1950 vA. R. FRANK ETAL 2,948,394

ARTICLE ALINING AND FEDING MECHANISM Filed June 29, 1955 *v 9 sheets-sheet 7 l. /5 maar. if

Aug. 9, 1960 A. R. FRANK ETAL 2,948,394

ARTICLE ALINING AND FEEDING MECHANISM Filed June 29, 1955 9 Sheets-Sheet 8 l INVENTORS /v ra/v Maf/.4R0 F/MN/f QCS l Arme/zy Aug. 9, 1960 A. R. FRANK mi 2,948,394

ARTICLE ALINING AND FEEDING MECHANISM Filed June 29, 1955 9 Sheets-Sheet IINVENToRs Aura/v Hfcwaea FHA/wr BY Waan/1 fzfs n .r i;

@943,394 ARTICLE ALlNnvG AND EEEDHIG Filed ne 29. 1,955., Ser-.Ne- Salen 71c1aime (c1. zeef-97,)

This inventionV relates to amachine fof .assernbling and alining articles for Wrapping ,or stacking.' f f More particularly stated, the invention.; relates to-.a .machine adapted t0 engage, .aline and-.feed a pluralityof articles, .such as rectangular. articles.,Y as,V for; instance, lumps of sugar. The proper alining of Such :articles for wrapping machines. has previously been done. by hand operation, which necessarily .slows down' the wrappinanr stacking operation'. i'

This invention has for its salient objectto' provide a .machine designed to eficiently. aline and reed :articles and particularly angular or .rectangular articles.V Y 'Another object of the invention is to, provide mechanism for alining and feeding articles so` constiicted fand arranged that broken or undersized pieces will be ejected ,from the line of feed.

,Another Object f the invention is to provide mech-` anisnn ofthe character describedy so constructed Yand arranged .that a plurality of lines of articleswillhe alined and fed and the lines ,0f articles, one at. a time, willi-feed the articles toa delivery line.. f 4' Another .Objectof .the invention is to provide mechanism of the character described so designed that it willV deliver the articles at sucha'rate as to supply vthem to high speed Wrapping mechanism. f Y rf V"Further details of theY invention will .appear from the following specification taken in connection with'the drawings which. form a part of thisA application, and intwhich V'Fig l is` a side elevation ofua machinecon's'tructed in accordance with `the invention;

,Fig. 2 'is a t0p` planview; ofthemachine'fshown in Fig. 3 is a plan View of the hopper and receiving end of the machineshown in Figs. 1 Vand 2; Fig v4 is a sectional yelevation ofthe hopper;

Fig. 5 is a sectional `elevation, 'partly vbroken away, showing the mounting and drive fof `thebelt whichv receives the articles from the hopper; 'i

`Eig. 6 is a vertical sectional elevationshowing one of the' belt supporting rollers andthedriving connections therefor, and also showingrthve carriage and alirring and feeding belts carried therebyl whichfrceive the articles from rheiniaal feeding beu; "1 "f j Fig. 7 is a'sectional elevation through the driving mechanism forr themain belt which'receives' `'the material from th hpner; Y., y. i

Fig'."8 is a'sectionalvr elevation taken substantially on pipes-ns of rig. 7,-1o6r-ig'iii iii diri-agen Qrtne'a'rrows; Fig, 9" is'l afsect'ional 'le aken substantially 'on line 9L? of Fig. 7 looking mathe" of the` arrows;

" Figf l() is a top pladview'of thec'arriagfe' and Y f deliveryof the` yarticles:from Vthe in dividalfeed liliesL to elimina belts.; U

. evenwel .Sectionalelsvstin ihr ,.Shnwisf ,e .meantime Fig, l ln is 'carriage `v`Stntes.Pnteint i0 f 2,948,394 -Patented Aug. 9, 1960 line V12p-1K2 kof` Fig. ll, Vlooking inthe direction of the Fig". 1 3yis a sectional elevation taken substantially on linedT-IS of Fig. 11,' looking inthe direction of the aows;,..,r.v

Fig'. "I4 is a vertical sectionaly elevation taken through the delivery end of the m'ain feeding belt'y and showing the feed and article supporting means between the' delivery endjofj the'main feedingbelt and the individual feed belts which' feed the alined articles to a delivery belt, thearticle alining meansrshown in this figure being a modification of that shown in Figs. l1 to 13 inclusive;

Fig.V 15 is a plan viewof the structure shownin Fig. l4,`thisjvie`w being taken substantially on line 15j- 15 of Fig, 14, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig.' 16A is an end elevation looking at the right hand end'ofFig, 14.;V l

Figi 17 :isa plan view of the delivery end of the individual feed belts and the delivery belt which receives thev articles therefrom;

Eig; 18, is a plan, View, partly in section, of the delivery end ofthe individual feed belts and parts adjacent thereto;

Eig. l9-is a verticalsectional elevation of the structure shown in'Fig. 18, showing the operation of the feed interruption mechanism vandthe guiding mechanism for guiding the articles to the delivery belt;

FigfZQ-'is a fragmentary sectional elevation showing the' camY and operating means for the 'feed stopping mechanism;

' Fig. 2l is a fragmentary plan View showing the delivery end of oneof the individual feed lines and the guiding andfeedirig meansfor feeding the articles to the delivery belt; and

VA Figs. 22, 23 and 24 are diagrammatic views showing the'positions of the feed stopping mechanism and article guiding 'mechanism whereby articles are feed from` one line only to the delivery belt at any one time.

The invention, briefly described, consists of mechanism designed particularly 'for' alining and feeding articles, such asrectangular articles, to wrapping or stacking mechanism. The articles' are first deposited from a hopper-0n a main feed beltwhich is generally fed in a direction to advance the articles but is oscillated transversely arid alsoV is periodically,'momentarily reversed.l These various movements'of the belt are provided to break up and separate "masses "of articles which tend to form on the feed belt and retard the "feeding and alining movenient, thereof. v'

` From' the main feed belt the articles pass, while still on the main feed belt, between oppositely disposed,` movable, aliniilg means, Ysuch asr belts, these belts being driven in a direction opposite tothe direction of feed vof the main feed belt. The beltsaremounted on a carriage, which in one form of the invention is oscillated laterally. Y

As an alternative to the alining belts, the articles may be alined by suitable rollers. From the alining mechanism the aiticles'pas's between suitabley guides ontofed belts and inthe form of the invention shown there area plural- @tibetan-earner die',

Main feed belt drive and control Attention is directed to Figs. 1 to 9 inclusive. In the form of the invention illustrated in the drawings, the machine is mounted on a base 30 having suitable uprights 31, 32, 33 and 34 for supporting the various parts of the machine. The articles to be alined and fed are deposited in a hopper 35, which is preferably pivoted on a spindle 36, and is vertically vibrated by any suitable vibrating means 37. A roller 38, mounted on a spindle 39, driven in a manner hereinafter described, deposits the articles from the hopper on the main feed belt 40. The belt 40, as shown particularly in Fig. is mounted on rollers 41 and 42 between flanges 43. The rollers 41 and 42 have pins 44 and 45 projecting longitudinally beyond the ends of the rollers and slidably mounted in collars 46 and 47 xed on the roller shafts 48 and 49.

The rollers 41 and 42 have cam-shaped recesses or slots 50 intermediate their ends and in each slot there is positioned a stud or roller 51, these rollers being mounted on cross bars 52 and 53. Thus, as the rollers rotate, they will be oscillated longitudinally, thus causing the main feed belt 40 to oscillate laterally during its feeding movement.

The driving connections for the feed rollers will now be described, attention being directed particularly to Figs. l, 2, 5 and 6.

In Fig. l there is shown a motor M mounted on a suitable bracket on the base 30. The motor, through a suitable gear box and gearing, drives a shaft 55 on which is mounted a sprocket 56, which drives a chain 57. The chain 57 drives a sprocket 58 mounted on a shaft 59. The shaft 59 has mounted thereon, a sprocket 38A which drives a chain 38B, which in turn drives a sprocket 38C on the shaft 39. The shaft 59 has mounted thereon a geark 60 which meshes with a gear 61 on a shaft 62. Shaft 62 has mounted on the other end thereof a sprocket 63 which drives a chain 64, which drives a sprocket 65 rotatably mounted on the roller shaft 48. Sprocket 65 is secured to a gear 66 which drives a gear 67 rotatably mountedon a stub shaft 68 carried by a bracket or arm 69 Which is oscillatably mounted in bearings 7 0 on the shaft 48. Gear 67 has secured thereto a gear 71 which, as shown in Fig. 8, meshes with a gear 72 mounted on the arm or bracket 69. Gear 72 meshes with a gear 73 which is mounted on and splined to the shaft 48. Y

The shaft 62 has mounted thereon a cam 75 which is engaged by a roller 76 on a pitman 77. The other end of the pitman is pivoted to a vertically extending arm 78 and the upper end of the arm 78 is connected by a link 79 to the arm or bracket 69.

The drive for the shaft 48 of the roller 41 has been above described and the roller 42 is driven from the shaft 48 by a sprocket .80 which drives a chain 81 which passes around an idler 82 and drives a sprocket 83 on the shaft 49. The chain 81 thus extends around the sprocket 80, idler 82, sprocket 83, and back to the sprocket 80.

In general, the driving connections to the shaft 48 drive the rollers 41 and 42 and belt 40 in a direction to advance the articles. However, by the action of the cam 75, pitman 77, arm 78, and link 79, the bracket or arm 69 is periodically oscillated andV during its. oscillation causes the gear 72 to roll on the gear 73 and the rate of this movement is such that instead of driving the belt 40 in a direction to advance the articles, the belt is given a momentary reverse movement. This is done for the purpose of breaking up a mass of articles which would tend to collect at the point X shown on Fig. 2 where the articlesare about to enter the alining mechanism.

Article alirling mechanisms T Attention is directed to Figs. 2, 6, and to 16 inclusive. The article alining mechanism, inthe form of the invention shown in Figs. `l()` to l3inclusive, Vis mounted in a carriage 90, which, as shown particularly in Figs. 10 and 11, is slidably supported in V-shaped rollers 91n1ount- .4 ed on spindles '92 and engaging guide blocks 93 having V-Y shaped notches and secured to the four corners of the cai'- riage 90. The carriage is given a lateral oscillation by means of a cam 95 which engages a roller 96 secured to the under surface of the block. The cam 95 is mounted on a shaft 97 having a bevel gear 98 which meshes with a bevel gear 99 mounted on a shaft 100.v Shaft 100 has a sprocket 101 mounted thereon, which is driven by a chain 102, which in turn is driven by a sprocket 103 on the shaft S9. A spring 94 (see Fig. 6) connected to upright 33 and to the carriage 90, holds roller 96 against cam 95.

As shown particularly in Fig. 10, there are a plurality of sets of article alining mechanisms indicated at A, B and C, although it should be understood that as many sets may be used as desired.

Each set of mechanisms consists of a pair of belts and 111 and these belts are driven on their inner laps in' a direction opposite to the direction of feed of the main feed belt 40. This is indicated by the arrows in Fig". 10.

Each belt is preferably formed of resilient material if the articles to be fed are fragile, such as lumps of sugar', and each belt is mounted on a pair of pulleys 112 and 113. The pulleys 113 are idlers and the pulleys 112 are driven in a manner about to be described. The pulleys 112 are mounted on vertical spindles or shafts 115, 116, 117, 118, 119 and 120.

The shaft 97 has mounted on the upper end thereof, a sprocket which drives a chain 126. The chain 126 yis engaged by an idler sprocket 127 mounted on an arm 128 and the other end of the arm 128 is engaged by a spring i129, the idler -127 thus acting as la chain tightener and providing means for giving or taking up slack.

The chain 126 drives a sprocket 130 mounted on the shaft 115 and a sprocket 131 mounted on the shaft 116. Shaft 116 has mounted thereon a gear 135 which meshes with a gear 1136 on shaft =117. Shaft l119 has mounted thereon a gear 137 which meshes with a `gear 138 on shaft 118. The chain 1126 drives a sprocket 140 mounted on the shaft 119 and 4a sprocket 141 on the shaft 120. From the sprocket 1141 the chain passes around an idler 142 and back to the sprocket 125.

In the foregoing manner the shafts 115 to 120 are all driven and are ydriven in such 4a 1direction that the inner laps 110 and 111 are driven in the direction of the arrows shown in Fig. l0 or in a direction opposite to the general direction of feeding movement of the belt 40. As the articles pass through the alining mechanisms A, B or C, they will V:be engaged rby the Ibelts '110 and 111 if they are out of alinement and will be swung by engagement therewith so that they will be positionedV as shown in dot-ted lines in Fig. 10. The entrance of the articles to the channels lbetween the alining belts -isfacilitated by the slight Ilateral oscillation of the main feed belt 40 and `also in the form of the invention shown in Figs. 10 to 13 by the slight lateral oscillation of the carriage 90.

As the articles leave the alining mechanism, properly alined, they will pass between 'guides 145 and 146 into channels designated A', B and C'. It Will -be understood that the main feed belt 40 extends beneath these channels and is still operating to feed the articles forwardly. After the 'belt passes around the advance feed roller 41, the articles pass over a bifurcated support or plate 150, through the Lbifurcation of which extends a yroller 151, preferably of resilient material. They then pass over a plate 152, beneath which is mounted a roller 153. If any of the articles Vis broken or -undersze it will drop through the opening indicated at i154 in Fig. 15 and will be engaged by roller 153 and ejected from the feed line. Y

Means, shown in Fig. 14, is provided foradjusting the plates 152. The plates are mounted on bars 155 pivoted on a shaft 156. 'Adjustable screws 157 engage the bars 155 and swing the bars on shaft 156 and the Vbars belt.

are held against the screws by springs 158. In this manner. the gap 154-can be made wider or narrower.

An alternative alining structure is shown in Figs'. 14 to 16 inclusive. ries the -articles between a plurality of sets of horizontally rotating rollers '160 and 1611, these rollers being driven in opposite directions, as shown by .the arrows in'Fig. 15. The driving conneet-ionsfor the rollers 160 and 161 are shown in Fig. 1,6; Each roller is mounted on a vertical spindle 162 andonvthe Vupper end of each spindle is mounted a bevelrgear 163 which meshes with a bevel gear 164 on -ashaft 165. Since the driving connections are simple and are clear-ly illustrated, a further y description thereof is not deemed rrrecessary.Y

24 inclusive. As shown particularly in Figs. 2` and 15,

the` articles, afterA they pass over `the plates 150 and 152, are engaged and f ed by belts 170,171 and 172. These vbelts feed the articles between vertical guides 173 and 174. The belts 170, 171 and I172 are mounted on pulleys 175 and 176. The pulleys j175 are idlers, but the pulleys 176 areY mounted on a shaft 177, on which is mounted a sprocket 178 driven by a chain 179 which engages 'a sprocket 180 on the shaft 55. Shaft 177 has also mounted thereon a bevel gear 18S which meshes with a bevel gear 186 on a shaft 187 which has mounted thereon a pulley 188 around which the delivery belt 189 passes. The delivery belt lis driven in a direction shown vby the arrows in Figs. 17 and- 18 and takes the articles as they are delivered, selectively, by one of the belts 170, 1711V and 172; Select-ive control means is provided for stopping the feed in two of thefeed vlines as the articles arebeing delivered by the third feedA line to the delivery This mechanism lwill now be described.

Above the path Aoffeed of the larticles from the belts In these figures the feed belt 40 car- 170, 171 and 172 there is'mouritedV -a shaft 190 having mounted thereon rollers :191,192 and 193, these rollers preferably being resilient and `adapted to engage and feed the articles. The shaft 190 has mounted thereon a gear 194 which meshes with'a vgear i195 on the shaft 177.

Above each of the lines of Vfeed or each of the belts 170, U11-and. 172 there isnierlmedi a vertical,k Sldable plunger 200 having -a resilient pad 201 at its lower end. This plunger is normally held up by a spring 202. The upper end of the plunger -is engaged by an arm 203 pivoted at 204 and having a rearwardly extending arm 205. The arm 205 has connected Ithereto la link 206 and the lower end of the link is connected to an arm 207 mounted -on a spindle 208. The other end of the arm 207 carries a lroller 209 which engages a cam 210 on a shaft 211. Shaft 211 has a sprocket 212 driven by `a chain 213 from a sprocket 214 on a shaft 215. Shaft 215 has a gear 216 which meshes with a gear 217 on the shaft 55. A spring 218 holds the roller 209 against the cam 210.

It will be understood from the illustration in Figs. 2 land 17 that a plunger 200 isv provided for each line of feed and a cam and control lever and connecting link to an -arm 203, 205 are also provided. These cams are so designed that the plunger for the three lines of lfeed will be operated in the manner shown in Figs. 22, 23 and 24. In Fig. 22 the line of feed in the two lefthand lines is stopped since the plungers are depressed. VThe right hand line of feed is open. In Fig. 23 the two outside lines are stopped and the intermediate line is open. In Fig. 24 the left hand line is open and the other two lines are closed.

In order to assist in feeding the articles around the right angle turn, as shown particularly in Fig. 21, a horizontally operating feed roller 220 is provided for each line of articles and this feed roller is driven by a worm driving connection shown at 221 in Fig. 17.

Further means is provided for guiding the articles from the belts 170, 171 tand 172 `around the right ang-le turn onto the delivery belt larly ydirected tovFigs. 2, `17 and 19. As shown in Fig.

,in Fig. 18.

189, and attention is particu- 17, aguide member for the line 172 is xedly mounted, Aas shown at-225. Guide members 226 and 227 are also provided Yfor the lines of feed 171 and '170, but in order not lto interfere with the travel of the articles from line 172 on the delivery belt 139, the guide members 226 and 227 are mounted -for vertical movement out of the path of travel of the articles. This movement will now be described and attention is again directed to Figs. 17, 18

and 19. f

.Y In Fig. 19 there is shown a guide member which may be either member 226 or 227, but for convenience will block 228 which is slidable in guideways 230,V as shown 231, to which is connected a link 232 which is pivoted at its Alower end to an arm 233 pivoted on the spindle 208. The lever arm 233 extends beyond the pivot 208 at right angles thereto and carries a roller 234 which engages a cam 235 mounted on the shaft 211. A spring 236 is connected to the arm 233 and holds the roller against the cam 235.

The operations of the lever arms and cams which control the guide members 226 and 227 are shown in Figs. 22, 23 and 24. In Fig. 22 the right hand line of feed,

' or-line 172, is open, and the articles are being fed in '170, is delivering articles, and the guide member 227 35 is in operative position.

f VFrom the foregoing specification it will be seen that the articles will be deposited on the main feed belt 40 Vandwrill be agitated thereon by lateral and reverse move- .ments'of vthe belt in opposition to the direction of feed kso that they pass between or through the channels in which they are straightened and alined and fed forwardly. Thereafter theY articles pass over the spaced supporting plates sodesigned that brokenor undersized articles will 'be eliminatedfrorn the line of feed. The larticles then,

in alined position, pass` through the individualfeed channels to the discharge ends thereof, from which they are discharged onto the delivery belt. Means hereinbefore described is provided for controlling the discharge of the articles from the individual channels so that they will be discharged from one channel at a time.

Although certain specific embodiments of the invention have been particularly shown and described it will be understood that the invention is capable of modification and that changes in the construction and in the arrangement of the various cooperating parts may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention, as expressed in the following claims.

' said operating means having mechanism incorporated therein for periodically and momentarily reversing said belt movement, means superposed on said belt defining channels for alining and for the movement of said articles, said channel forming means comprising a plurality of sets of belts, each set comprising two belts spaced apart to form a channel, means for operating said spaced belts so that the inner laps will move in a direction opposite to the general direction of feed of said feed belt, and means for oscillating said channel forming belts laterally during the operation thereof.

2. In a mechanism for alining and feeding articles, a feed belt, operating means for said belt arranged to move said belt generally in a direction to advance the The block has connected thereto an arm articles, said operating means having mechanism incorporated therein for periodically and momentarily reversing said belt movement, means superposed on said belt defining channels for alining and for the movement of said articles, said channel forming means being movable longitudinally relative to said feed belt, means for moving said channel forming means in a direction opposite to the general feeding movement of the feed belt to aline the articles fed, and means for oscillating said superposed channel forming means transversely of the direction of feeding movement of the feed belt.

3. In a mechanism for alining and feeding articles, a feed belt, operating means for said belt arranged to move said belt generally in a direction to advance the articles, means superposed on said belt defining channels for alining and for the movement of said articles, said channel forming means comprising a plurality of sets of belts, each set comprising two belts spaced apart to form a channel, means for operating said spaced belts so that the inner laps will move in a direction opposite to the general direction of feed of said feed belt, and means for oscillating said channel forming belts laterally during the operation thereof.

4.. In a mechanism for alining and feeding articles, a feed belt, operating means for said belt arranged to move said belt generally in a direction to advance the articles, said operating means having mechanism incorporated therein for periodically and momentarily reversing said belt movement, and means for oscillating said feed belt laterally during its feeding movement.

5. Mechanism for alining and feeding objects, comprising a main feed belt, means for driving said belt in a direction to advance the objects, means operatable to periodically and momentarily reverse the belt movement, a plurality of channels above the belt, means for straightening and alining objects as they pass through the channels, an individual feed belt alined With each channel, a delivery belt operating at an angle to said plurality of individual feed belts and adapted to receive objects therefrom, selective means at the delivery ends of said indvidual feed belts for interrupting delivery from all but one of said plurality of individual feed belts at one time, means superposed on the delivery belt for guiding articles fed thereon by the individual belts, and means for raising ,the guiding means operating in conjunction With the'individual belts which are interrupted in their feeding operation.

6. In a mechanism for alining and feeding articles, a main feed belt for advancing the articles, means mounted above the belt forming channels through which the articles are fed by the feed belt, said means engaging, straightening and alining the articles, article feeding means mounted in advance of said main feed belt in the direction of the line of feed of the articles for receiving and feeding the articles received from the main feed belt and means disposed intermediate the main feed belt and the article feeding means for ejecting from the line of vfeed articles which are under size.

mediate the main feed belt and the article feeding meansr for ejecting from the `line of feed articles which are under size.

References Cited in the me of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 20,675 Todd Mar. 22, 1938 1,158,120 Conte Oct. 26, 1915 Y `1,369,377 Benson Feb. 22, 1921 V1,990,549 Kimball Feb. 12, 1935 2,301,543 Hlavaty Nov. 10, 1942 2,576,369 Sticelber Nov. 27, 1951 2,587,959 Biner Mar. 4, 1952 2,649,951 Sandberg Aug. 25, 1953 2,682,331 Campbell June 29, 1954 2,685,358 Heil et al. Aug. 3, 1954 2,744,611 Ienney et al. May 8, 1956 2,791,315 Chapman May 7, 1957 2,810,480 Carroll Oct. 22, 1957 Y Y FOREIGN PATENTSV 739,385 Great Britain Oct. 26, 1955 

